Clicks Group is recruiting unemployed degree and diploma graduates aged 18 to 35 for multiple 12-month placements at United Pharmaceutical Distributors. Opportunities are available across operations, supply chain, finance, infrastructure, human resources, training, account management, planning and workplace safety.
The placements will be based at United Pharmaceutical Distributors branches in Johannesburg, Pinetown and Cape Town. Online applications close on either 21 or 22 July 2026, depending on the selected intake.
Successful graduates will receive fixed-term contracts with market-related remuneration. No exact monthly stipend amount has been disclosed.
The programme offers a valuable entry point for graduates who have completed recognised qualifications but still need practical experience within pharmaceutical distribution, wholesale operations or business support services.
What does the UPD Graduate Programme offer?
The 2026/2027 programme is supported through the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority.
Participants will spend 12 months gaining experience within the operations and administration environment of United Pharmaceutical Distributors, a Clicks Group company.
Depending on the selected placement, graduates could be exposed to:
- Pharmaceutical warehouse operations.
- Supply chain and logistics processes.
- Procurement and inventory management.
- Replenishment and stock planning.
- Financial controls and reporting.
- Human resources and workplace training.
- Infrastructure management.
- Key account management.
- Occupational health and safety.
- Quality assurance procedures.
These placements are intended to help graduates connect their academic knowledge with the responsibilities and expectations of a professional workplace.
Which graduates suit the multi-discipline intake?
The first intake is open to degree and diploma graduates who want to gain experience within the operations and administration departments at the Lea Glen and Rand Leases branches in Johannesburg.
The vacancy lists Roodepoort as the broader location and closes on 22 July 2026.
Degree holders may be considered if they have completed qualifications such as:
- Bachelor of Commerce in Supply Chain Management.
- Bachelor of Logistics.
- Bachelor of Business Administration in Logistics.
- Bachelor of Commerce in Operations Management.
- Bachelor of Commerce in Finance.
- Bachelor of Commerce in Financial Management.
- Bachelor of Accounting.
- Bachelor of Commerce in Economics.
Diploma graduates may be considered for human resources, learning and development, finance, infrastructure or key account management.
Relevant diplomas include:
- Human Resource Management.
- Financial Management.
- Accounting.
- Cost and Management Accounting.
- Internal Auditing.
- Banking.
- Civil Engineering.
- Construction Management.
- Building.
- Electrical Engineering.
- Mechanical Engineering.
- Infrastructure Management.
- Marketing Management.
- Business Management.
- Sales Management.
- Retail Business Management.
This intake specifically states that graduates should have no work experience and should not currently be employed.
Who can enter the two-position supply chain intake?
United Pharmaceutical Distributors is also recruiting two unemployed diploma graduates for its operations environment.
The successful candidates will be based at the Mahogany Ridge branch in Pinetown. They will report to the Operations Manager and Responsible Pharmacist while gaining exposure to operations and quality assurance.
Applicants must have Grade 12 and a completed diploma in one of the following fields:
- Supply Chain Management.
- Logistics Management.
- Operations Management.
- Procurement and Supply.
- Business Management.
- Retail Business Management.
- Warehouse Management.
- Inventory and Stores Management.
- Production Management.
- Industrial Engineering or Engineering Operations.
Candidates must be unemployed and aged between 18 and 35.
Anyone currently participating in a learnership or receiving a Sector Education and Training Authority bursary will be disqualified from this intake.
Applications for the two positions close on 21 July 2026.
How are the four departmental placements divided?
A further four diploma graduate placements are available across different United Pharmaceutical Distributors departments.
The selected graduates will be based at the Montague Gardens branch in Cape Town. The intake consists of:
- One Health and Safety Management placement.
- One Finance placement.
- One Replenishment and Planning placement.
- One Operations placement.
Candidates targeting operations or replenishment and planning should hold a diploma in supply chain, logistics, operations, procurement, warehousing, inventory, production, business management or industrial engineering.
The Health and Safety placement is open to graduates with diplomas in:
- Health and Safety Management.
- Occupational Health and Safety.
- Safety Management.
The Finance placement accepts diplomas in:
- Financial Management.
- Accounting.
- Cost and Management Accounting.
- Internal Auditing.
- Banking.
Applicants must have Grade 12, be unemployed and be between 18 and 35 years old.
Candidates currently participating in a learnership or receiving a Sector Education and Training Authority bursary will not qualify. Applications close on 21 July 2026.
How should graduates choose the correct intake?
Candidates should select an intake that clearly matches the name and content of their completed qualification.
The multi-discipline opportunity is suitable for graduates in finance, logistics, human resources, infrastructure, learning and development, and account management.
The two-position intake is more focused on operations and supply chain qualifications. Meanwhile, the four-position intake provides defined routes into operations, planning, finance, or workplace safety.
Graduates should not submit an application for a discipline that has no clear connection to their qualification.
How can candidates submit their applications?
Each intake has a separate online application process.
Applications for the multi-discipline degree and diploma intake must be submitted through the relevant Clicks Group online application portal by 22 July 2026. The listing reference is click_025716.
Candidates interested in the two operations and supply chain positions must use the official portal for the two-diploma-graduate intake by 21 July 2026. The listing reference is click_025726.
Applications for the four departmental positions must be completed through the official portal for the four-diploma-graduate intake by 21 July 2026. The listing reference is click_025725.
Before submitting, candidates should:
- Update their curriculum vitae with accurate information.
- State the complete name of their qualification.
- Include their institution and graduation date.
- Identify the department they are targeting.
- Check that their employment status is correct.
- Upload only the documents requested by the portal.
- Save the confirmation received after submission.
Candidates who need help with registration can contact 010 140 3099 or clickssupport@pnet.co.za. The support email address should not be used to submit an application.
Itumeleng’s Insider Tip: Choose the placement that most closely matches your qualification, then tailor your curriculum vitae around that department. Supply chain graduates should highlight logistics, inventory and procurement projects, while finance and safety graduates should foreground the modules and practical assignments most relevant to their chosen placement.
What happens after the closing dates?
Clicks Group will assess applications against the qualification, age, employment and programme-status requirements.
Candidates who have not received feedback within two weeks after the relevant closing date should consider their applications unsuccessful.
The vacancies are designated as employment equity positions.
What else should candidates know?
How long will the UPD Graduate Programme run?
All three intakes offer 12-month fixed-term contracts.
Who can submit an application?
The placements are intended for unemployed graduates aged between 18 and 35 who have Grade 12 and a relevant completed degree or diploma.
Has UPD announced a monthly stipend?
No exact stipend amount has been provided. Remuneration is listed as market related.
Can someone on a learnership participate?
The two-position and four-position diploma intakes state that candidates on learnership programmes or receiving a Sector Education and Training Authority bursary will be disqualified.
When do applications close?
The two-position and four-position diploma intakes close on 21 July 2026. The multi-discipline degree and diploma intake closes on 22 July 2026.
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Final Thoughts
The Clicks Group UPD Graduate Programme provides several entry points for graduates in logistics, operations, finance, infrastructure, human resources, training, planning, account management and workplace safety.
Each intake has different qualification rules and a separate application portal. Candidates should identify the opportunity that matches their completed qualification, tailor their curriculum vitae accordingly and submit before the relevant deadline on 21 or 22 July 2026.
